Jigawa Governor Signs Law Approving Death Sentence For Rapists

Badaru

Umar Akilu Majeri

The Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar on Wednesday assented to the bill stipulating a death sentence for rapists.

The bill named violence against person’s prohibition law stipulates the death penalty for rape convicts who infect their victims with HIV/AIDS.

Our reporter found out that the Jigawa State House of Assembly passed the bill on Wednesday and transmitted it to the governor for assent.

While assenting to the bill, Alhaji Badaru commended the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Musa Aliyu, and the state’s council of Ulamas for a sound working collaboration leading to the passage of the bill.

The governor said he assented to the bill after consultation with the council of Ulamas who assured that all sections of the law are not in conflict with the Islamic and culture of the people of Jigawa state.

The law expected to be gazette soon also stipulated that the Sharia law will take precedence if any matter in the new law contradicts Islamic teachings.

The chairman, Jigawa council of Ulamas, Kadi Bashir-Ahmad, said the new law was scrutinized and vetted by the religious body and ensure that ambiguous sections that are not in conformity with Islam were removed.

The official commended the governor for the trust while tasking them to work on the new law before his final ascent.

The new law also allows that rape victim(s) would be compensated with not less than N500,000, while the court would order rape offenders to be subjected to public shame through radio announcements.

Also, the law says the use of chemical, biological or any harmful substance that causes lifetime deformity on the victim will attract life imprisonment without an option of a fine.

The bill is an adaptation of a similar bill passed by the National Assembly and adopted by some state Houses of Assembly. The bill also prescribes certain conducts that are injurious to society.

It also seeks to offer higher protection to the vulnerable in society.

The bill was unanimously agreed by the 30 House members representing the 27 council areas of the state.